Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like



May 20, 1958 E. M. DISS 2,835,121

SEALING ORIFICE FQR STEA M TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 26, 1955 IN VEN TOR. c/Wara M. 01256 Patent ()flice 2,835,121 Patented May 20, 1958SEALING ORIFICE FOR STEAM THE LIKE 15 Claims. c1. i s-.6

TUBES AND This invention relates to a sealing orifice for steam tubesand like enclosures wherein running lengths of strandular material aretreated for various purposes while being subjected to a gaseous treatingfluid, such as steam, which is maintained under pressure within thesteam tube.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide asealing orifice which may advantageously be employed on the open ends ofsteam tubes and the like to restrict and minimize the escape of steam orother gaseous treating fluid from the steam tube while accommodating thefree lengthwise passage of strandular material through the steam tube.It is also an object of the invention to provide a sealing orificeforsteam tubes and the like which is especially suited for employmentwith steam tubes being utilized in the treatment of running lengths oftextile fibers, including yarns, threads and particularly bundles andtows of continuous filament artificial and synthetic textile fibers.

According to the present invention, a sealing orifice for steam tubesand the like comprises a pair of aperture forming members having leadingand trailing edges and extending longitudinally therebetween; adjacentand facing surfaces in contact on each of said members between theirleading and trailing edges; one of said members being longitudinallyslidable along the contacting surfaces relative to the other member; agroove in the contacting surface of one of said members extendinglongitudinally from its leading edge towards its trailing edge toprovide an internal passageway between said members; said members beingpositioned with the trailing edge of the ungrooved member over thegroove in said grooved memher to form an outlet throat for thepassageway provided by said groove; means for maintaining a sealingcontact between the adjacent and facing surfaces of said members; andmeans for mounting said members in sealing contact as a longitudinallyextending closure on the open end of a steam tube. 7

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentin the following description and the drawing, in which like referencenumerals refer to like parts, wherein;

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a sealing orifice according tothe present invention, taken along the section line in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sealing orifice;

Figure 3 is a view of the leading end of the orifice;

Figure 4 s a P an i o e ste ed a ure fcrming member in the sealingorifice;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the grooved member taken along 5?5in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the aperture formingmembers;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the interaction of the aperture formingmembers;

Figure 9, is a sectional view of the means for moving nd o son n h a e rq si n me b s e a o one s hcr' h ra ed. embod men nd Figur .0 and ll ratth r c bcdimcnts i 2 aperture forming members which may be employedaccording to the present invention.

With initial reference to Figures 1-6 in the drawing, there isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a sealing orifice comprised of upper andlower aperture forming members 12 and 18 respectively which arepositioned in an internal channel 26 within a hollow, cylindrical,open-ended housing 25. The longitudinally extending aperture formingmembers 12 and 18 have leading edges 13 and 19 and trailing edges 14 and20, respectively. Advantageously the leading edges are outwardly exposedto the atmosphere when the sealing orifice is in position on a steamtube with the trailing edges being inwardly disposed. As shown, moreparticularly in Figures 4-6, each of the members 12 and 18 have adjacentsurfaces 17 and 24 which face and are in contact with one another. It isdesirable for the contacting surfaces 17 and 24 to be flat to readilypermit sliding of one member relative to the other although otherconforming contacting surfaces may also be employed. The surfacespreferably interfit closely enough to furnish a seal against thepenetration of steam and other gaseous treating fluids under pressurebetween them.

The trailing edges 14 and 24) of each of the aperture forming members 12and 18 are advantageously tapered and, preferably, as illustrated, areconically chamfered to have a funneled or semi-conical recessedconfiguration. It 'is usually desirable for the trailing edges of bothof the aperture forming members to be similar or identical.

The lower aperture forming member 18 is provided with a groove 21 whichbegins in the leading edge 19 of the member 18, and extendslongitudinally towards the trailing edge 20 to emerge or terminate onthe contacting surface 24 before it is permitted to extend sufiicientlyto intersect the trailing edge. Advantageously, the groove 21 is taperedconverging to the contacting surface 24 at its point of emergencethereon and is slightly flared out in the direction of the leading edge19 of the lower aper: ture forming member. It is desirable for the pointof emergence of the groove 21 on the surface 24 to be as close aspossible to the trailing edge 20 Without actually intersecting with it.It is also desirable for sharp and square edges to be provided at theintersection of the contacting surfaces with the groove or with thetrailing e ge [a S t scre 23 hreade i a t pp hole 22011 the bottom ofthe lower aperture forming member 18 and extending into an opening 31 inthe bottom of the housing 25 holds the lower member 18 stationarilypositioned in the housing. Advantageously, the upper member 12 ispositioned slidably alon the contacting surface of the lower member 18to facilitate positioning the trailing edge 14 of the upper member 12over the groove 21. This forms a throat T between the upper and lowermembers 12 and 18 to provide an outlet (or inlet, depending on thedirection of passage) for strandular material in the groove 21.Alternatively, if desired, the non-grooved (u pe member 2 ma he st t nly po itioned and the grooved (lower) member 18 slidably positioned toeffect relative movement between the pair.

The position of the upper member 12 relative to the lower member 18 mayadvantageously be altered to vary the size of the throat T by anysuitable means which may be incorporated in the apparatus for slidablymoving and positioning the upper member within the housing. Such ameans, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, conveniently may consistof an adjusting nut 32 (also shown crossrsectionally in Figure 9),threaded on the outer threads 29 about the housing 25 of the sealingorifice, having an inner, nnular channel 34:. A set screw 16, threadedin a tapped hole 15 in the upper d of th upp r member .12 ex ends t h aslot 28 in the housing into the annular channel 34 of the adjusting nut32. Movement of the adjusting nut 32 on the threads 29 causes'alongitudinal movement in the same direction as thefnutof the uppermember 12 relative to the stationarily positioned lower member 18. Anaccess hole 33 leading to the annular channel 34 in the adjusting nut 32facilitates insertion of the set screw 16 in the tapped hole in theupper member 12 after insertion of the member within the housing 25. Alocking nut 36, when it is drawn up tightly against the adjusting nut32, may advantageously be employed for clamping the adjusting nut inorder to fix the upper member 12 in a desired position.

As is depicted in Figures 7 and 8, movement of the upper member 12 alongthe lower member serves to close off or open the throat T between themembers to any desired extent. As shown in Figure 7, when the taperedtrailing edge 14 of the upper member 12 is not over the groove 21, thereis no throat formed in the pas-.

sageway provided by the groove 21 between the members 12 and 18.However, movement of the upper member 12 to position the trailing edge14 over the groove 21 forms the throat T and completes the passagewayfor strandular material between the members 12 and 18 fromtheir leadingto their trailing edges. As is apparent, the size of the throat T, whenit is formed by a funneled groove and trailing edge, may bepredetermined and varied within the limits of the size of the groove,according to the extent to which the trailing edge 14 is positionedbeyond the edge of the groove. In all cases it is most advantageoustoconformthe size of the throat T as nearly as possible to the crosssection of the strandular material being passed through the sealingorifice. This minimizes the extent and amount of loss of steam and thelike through the passageway in the sealing orifice.

In order to provide a more efiicient sealing orifice,

it is also advantageous for the upper and lower members 12 and 18 to beperipherally sealed against the end of the steam tube or other enclosureon which they are employed or within the housing or other mountingconfines in which they are positioned for connection to the steam tube.Thus, for example, when a cylindrical housing is employed forcylindrical peripheried members, an internal sealing gasket such as theO ring gasket 38 in the annular gasket seat 30 within the housing may beutilized to prevent the escape of steam or other gaseous fluid aroundthe aperture forming members. Other means for sealing the peripheralportions of the aperture forming members may also be utilized, includingclosely interfitting parts and other gasketing and sealing arrangements.

The cross-sectional periphery of the aperture forming members may assumeother configurations besides semicircular structures. They may haverectangular cross sections, as illustrated by member 18A in Figure 10,or may be square, polygonal or curved in any desired manner. Inaddition, either of the members which is stationarily positioned may, ifdesired, be formed integral with the housing or mounting enclosure forthe movable member. Likewise, the tapered trailing edges of eithermember, particularly the grooved member, and the groove in the groovedmember may have various desired configurations. They may, for example,be formed in the shape of oppositely extending chisel-like indentures,as depicted at 20A and 21A in Figure 11, or they may have other linearor curvilinear outlines and recessed characteristics. The taperedtrailing edgesmay. even, if desired, be perfectly flat and unrecessededges.

The aperture forming members may be mounted in any desiredlongitudinally extending manner to the open end of a steam tube or thelike to provide a sealing orifice closure. They may be directly mountedin the end of a steam tube or, advantageously, may be positioned in ahousing or other mounting enclosure which is fastened or coupled on theend of a steam tube. The

internal channel 26 of the housing 25 may, as illustrated, be providedwith threads 27eat one end to permit coupling the sealing orifice to thethreaded end of a steam tube 37. Other fastening means such as flanges,welding joints, snap-on fittings and the like may also be employed forthis purpose.

When mounting the sealing orifice of the present invention on the end ofa steam tube or the like it is advantageous for it to be positioned insuch a manner that the strandular material is more or less in tensionedcontact against the grooved aperture forming member while being passedthrough the sealing orifice. This facilitates the passage of thestrandular material through the sealing orifice. In particular, itreduces the tendency of certain strandular material, especially multiplefilament tows and the like, to spread out and flare while being passedthrough the sealing orifice so as to become entangled therein,particularly in the throat between the aperture forming members. Thismay be accomplished, as illustrated in Figure 1, by offsetting a portionof the channel 26 at a slight angle so that the sealing orifice may becoupled to a steam tube in such a manner that the contacting surfaces 17and 24 of the aperture forming members 12 and '18 are disposed in aplane at an angle relative to the axial path of passage of thestrandular material 40 through the steam tube 37. This causes thepassing strandular material to contact some portion of the trailing edge20 of the grooved member. For this purpose it may also be advantageousby means of'a suitably placed guide 41 to pass the material angularlythrough the sealing orifice along the bottom of the groove 21.

Sealing orifices according to the present invention may be effectivelyemployed to substantially completely restrict the escape of steam orother gaseous fluid from steam tubes being employed for the treatment ofrunning lengths of textile fibers. They are particularly effective forsealing steam tubes during the stretching for purposes of orientationand the like of continuous filament bundles and tows of artificial andsynthetic textile fibers.

While the sealing orifices of the present invention have been discussedherein in terms of various relative positions such as leading andtrailing, upper and lower and the like, it is to be understood that norestrictions as to the utility or adaptability of devices according tothe invention are to be imputed therefrom. They are operative, withinthe inventive concept, regardless of the particular relative directionin which strandular material is being passed through them or of therelative positions in which they or their several elements may beemployed. It is contemplated that, most commonly, the end of the orificeand the edges of the aperture forming members herein referred to astrailing or the trailing edge will be directed toward the steam tube onwhich the sealing orifice is mounted, but it is to be understood that,alternatively, it may be directed away from the steam tube or likeenclosure with little, if any, loss in efficiency. Further, it is to befully understood that many changes and modifications can be entered intoin the practice of the present invention Without substantially departingfrom its spirit and scope. Hence, it is intended that all the foregoingspecification and description be interpreted and construed as beingmerely illustrative of certain of the possible embodiments of theinvention. In no sense or manner should limiting or restrictiveconsiderations of the invention be entertained excepting in view of itsdefinition as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a running lengthof a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid under pressure,said orifice comprising a pair of elongate aperture forming membershaving leading and trailing edges with adjacent and facing surfacesextending between said edges, said surfaces being in contact on each ofsaid members between their leading and trailing edges; a groove in thecontacting surface of one of'said member-s extending longitudinally fromits leading edge towards its trailing edge to provide an internalpassageway between said members; said members being positioned with thetrailing edge of the ungrooved memher over the groove in said groovedmember to form an outlet throat for the passageway provided by saidgroove; means for maintaining a sealing contact between the adjacent andfacing surfaces of said members; and means for mounting said members insealing contact as a longitudinally extending closure on the open end ofa steam tube.

2. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a running lengthof a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid under pressure,said orifice comprising a pair of elongate aperture forming membershaving leading and trailing edges with the adjacent and facing surfacesextending between said edges, said surfaces being in contact on each ofsaid members between their leading and trailing edges; one of saidmembers being longitudinally slidable along the contacting surfacesrelative to the other member; a groove in the contacting surface of oneof said members extending longitudinally from its leading edge towardsits trailing edge and emerging on said contacting surface to provide aninternal passageway betweensaid members; said members being positionedwith the trailing edge of the ungrooved member over the groove in saidmember to form an outlet throat for the passageway provided by saidgroove; means for main: taining a sealing contact between the adjacentand facing surfaces of said members; means for moving the movable one ofsaid members in a longitudinal direction relative to the other; andmeans for mounting said mem hers in sealing contact as a longitudinallyextending closure on the open end of a steam tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the trailing edges of the apertureforming members are tapered away from said outlet throat.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the trailing edges of the apertureforming members are comically chamfered and have a funneledconfiguration away from said outlet throat.

5. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a running lengthof a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid under pressure,said orifice comprising a hollow, open-ended housing; elongated upperand lower aperture forming members, having leading and trailing edgesadjacent and facing surfaces extending between said edges, said membersbeing positioned to fit closely Within said housing in a longitudinallyextending direction between its open ends; the adjacent and facingsurfaces of said members being in contact with one another between theirleading and trailing edges; one of said members being longitudinallyslidable along the contacting surfaces relative to the other member; anda groove in the contacting surface of the lower member extendinglongitudinally from its leading edge towards its trailing edge andemerging on said contacting surface to provide an internal passage waybetween said members; said members being positioned with the trailingedge of the upper member over the groove in said lower member to form anoutlet throat for the passageway provided by said groove.

6. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a running lengthof a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid under pressure,said orifice comprising a hollow, open-ended housing; elongate upper andlower aperture forming members, having leading edges and taperedtrailing edges with adjacent and facing surfaces extending between saidedges, said members being positioned to fit closely within said housingin a longitudinally extending direction between its open ends; theadjacent and facing surfaces of said members being in contact with oneanother between their leading and trailing edges, one of said membersbeing longitudinally slidable along the contacting surfaces relative tothe other member; a groove in the contacting surface of the lower memberextending longitudinally towards its trailing edge and emerging on saidcontacting surface to provide an internal passage way between saidmembers; said members being positioned with the tapered trailing edge ofthe upper member over the groove in said lower member to form an outletthroat for the passageway provided by said groove; and means for movingthe movable one of said members in a longitudinal direction relative tothe other.

'7. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a runninglength of a strandul-ar material is subjected to a gaseous fluid underpressure, said orifice comprising a hollow, open-ended housing; elongateupper and lower aperture forming members, having leading edges andtapered trailing edges with adjacent and facing surfaces extendingbetween said edges, said members being positioned to fit closely withinsaid housing in a longitudinally extending direction between its openends; the adjacent and facing surfaces of said members being in contactwith one another between their leading and trailing edges; the lower ofsaid members being stationarily fixed within said housing and the uppermember being longitudinally slidable along the contacting surfacethereon; a' groove in the contacting surface of the lower memberextending longitudinally towards its trailing edge and emerging on saidcontacting surface near the trailing edge to pro: vide an internalpassageway between said members; said members being positioned with thetapered trailing edge of the upper member over the groove in said lowermembar to form an outlet throat for the passageway produced by saidgroove; and means for moving the upper member in a longitudinaldirection relative to'the lo'w'er member.

8. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a running lengthof a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid under pressure,said orifice comprising a hollow, cylindrical, open-ended housing;elongate semicylindrical upper and lower aperture forming members,having leading edges and tapered trailing edges with adjacent and facingsurfaces extending flatly between said edges said members beingpositioned to fit closely within said housing in a longitudinallyextending direction between its open ends; the adjacent, flat facingsurfaces of said members being in contact with one another between theirleading and trailing edges; the lower of said members being stationarilyfixed with said housing and the upper member being longitudinallyslidable along the contacting surface thereon; a groove in thecontacting surface of the lower. member extending longitudinally towardsits trailing edge and emerging on said contacting surface near thetrailing edge to provide an internal passageway between said members;said members being positioned with the tapered trailing edge of theupper member over the groove in said lower member to form an outletthroat for the passageway provided by said groove; and means for movingthe upper member in a longitudinal direction relative to the lowermember.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the trailing edges of the upper andlower aperture forming members are conically chamfered and have afunneled configuration away from said outlet throat.

ll).v The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the groove in the lower apertureforming member is tapered from the leading edge to the contactingsurface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the groove in the lower apertureforming member is tapered from the leading edge to the contactingsurface and is flared o/utwardly from its point of emergence on thecontacting surface towards the leading edge. I

12. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a runninglength of a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid underpressure, said orifice comprising a cylindrical, open-ended housing;exterior threads at one end of said housing; a cylindrical internalchannel within said housing; internal coupling threads .at one end insaid channel at theend of said housing which is opposite said exteriorthreads; elongate, semi-cylindrical upper and lower aperture formingmembers positioned to fit closely in the channel within said housing,said members having leading edges and tapered trailing edges withadjacent and facing surfaces extending flatly between saidedges, saidtrailing edges being conically chamfercd and having a funneledconfiguration; the adjacent flat facing surfaces of said members beingincontact with one another between their leading and trailing edges; thelower of said members being stationarily fixed within said housingand'the upper memer being longitudinally slidable along the contactingsurface thereon; a tapered groove in the contacting surface of the lowermember extending longitudinally towards its trailing edge and emergingon said contacting surface near the trailing edge to provide an internalpassageway between said members, said groove being flared outwardly fromits point of emergence on the contacting surface towards the leadingedge; said members being-positioned with the conically cham feredtapered trailing edge of the upper member over the groove in said lowermember to form an outlet throat for the passageway provided by saidgroove; an adjusting 8 a cylindrical, open-ended ,housing; exteriorthreadsjat one end of said housing; a cylindrical internal channelwithin said housing; internal jcoupling threads in said channel at theend ofsaid housing which is opposite said exterior threads; elongate,semi-cylindrical upper and lower aperture forming members positioned tofit closely in the channel within said housing, said members havingleading edges and tapered trailing edges with adjacent and facingsurfaces extending flatly between said edges, said trailing edges beingconically chamfered and having a funneled configuration; the adjacent,fiat facing surfaces of said members being in contact with one anotherbetween their leading and trailing edges; the lower of said membersbeing stationarily fixed within said housing and nut on the exteriorthreads of said housing; and means for connecting said adjusting nutwith the upper member to move the upper member in a longitudinaldirection relative to the lower member when said out is moved along saidthreads.

' 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a portion of the internalchannel in said housing is offset at a slight angle at its threaded endso as to be disposed with the axisof its offset portion in a plane whichis at an angle to the plane between the contacting surfaces of saidaperture forming members.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the groove in said lower memberemerges on said contacting surface at a point just before the pointwhere it would intersect with the trailing edge.

15. Sealing orifice for steam tubes and the like wherein a runninglength of a strandular material is subjected to a gaseous fluid underpressure, said orifice comprising the upper member being longitudinallyslidable along the contacting surface thereon; a tapered groove in thecontacting surface of the lower member extending longitudinally towardsits trailing edge and emerging on said contacting surface near thetrailing edge to provide an internal passageway between said members,said groove being flared outwardly from its point of emergence on thecontacting surface towards the leading edge; said membersbeingpositioned with the conically chamfered trailingedge of the upper memberover the groove in said lower member to form an outlet throat for thepassageway provided by said groove; an adjusting nut on the exteriorthreads of said housing, said nut being provided with an annularinterior channel; a slot in said housing through said exterior threadsover said upper aperture forming member; and a pin extending from saidupper aperture forming member through said slot in said housing to beengageable with said adjusting nut in the annular interior channelthereof, said upper member being thereby adapted to move in alongitudinal direction relative to the lower member when said nut ismoved along said threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l/r/p/UNETED STATES PATENT UFFEQE CERTIHCATE F QUE Efiiim l PatentNoe-2,835,121 May 20, 1.958

Edward M, Dies error appears in the-printed specification It is herebycertified that of the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line '75, strike out "at one end".

Signed and sealed this 18th day of November 1958 (SEAL) Attest: KARL WROBERT a. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Oflicer

